Main Entry:

re·cep·ta·cle

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin receptaculum, from receptare to receive, frequentative of recipere to receive

Date:

15th century

1: one that receives and contains something : container2 [New Latin receptaculum, from Latin] a: the end of the flower stalk upon which the floral organs are borne b: a structure or tissue (as of a fungus or fern) bearing spores or sporangia3: a mounted female electrical fitting that contains the live parts of the circuit